Island



(-No Model.)

J.H.SHEDD.

v ENGINEERS TAPE REEL. No. 516,282. Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

Witnesses. Imentor.

' ms NATIONAL UTHOGIA rrrrrr cIlPANY. WASHINGTON o c without the tape.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JOEL HERBERT SHEDD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD W.SHEDD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENGINEERS TAPE-REEL.

" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,282, dated March13, 1894.

' Application filed May 19,1893. Serial in. 474,758. (No model.)

To all whom it may ccncern:

Beitknown that I, JOEL HERBERT SHEDD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented a new and useful Engineers Tape-Reel, of which thefollowing, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specificationsufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons Skilled in the artto which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

The objects of my invention are to provide a more convenient, efficientand desirable instrument for winding and containing engineers steelmeasuring tapes, and to render the construction strong, lightanddurable. These objects I attain by the mechanism shown in thedrawings, wherein Figure l is a front view of my improved engineers tapereel. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section at line 33Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is a back view of the center of the frame showing thehandle seat. Fig. 5 shows the brake spring, and Fig. 6 shows a means forconnecting the tape to the winding wheel.

Myimproved instrument consists of a winding wheel B about four to sixinches in diameter, more or less, rotatably mounted upon an axial stud Oin connection with a spider or frame A having a series of radiating armsa that extend outward beyond the peripheral rim of said winding wheel,and are each forwardly ofiset to an extentsufficient to accommodate thewidth of the tape, and their ends inwardly returned to or slightly overthe rim of the winding wheel, thereby providing on the end of each arman inwardly open rectangular loop or guard A, within which the coils ofthe steel measuring tape T are confined when said tape is Wound upon theperiphery of the wheel B, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The rim of thewinding wheel is flat on its exterior, and is provided with means forthe attachment of the end of the tape thereto. Fig. 6 shows a convenientmeans of attachment. In this the face of the wheelrim is recessed, as ate, and transversely across this recess there is a fixed barf. The end ofthe tape Tis passed under said bar f and then folded back upon itself,as shown by the sec tion at the right in Fig. 6. Acrank b is fixed inone of the arms of the wheel forconvenientlyrotating the wheel on itsaxis 0 for reeling in the tape.

The frame A is provided with a handle or knob D by which the instrumentcan be conveniently held in t he hand. Said knob is preferably attachedin the manner illustrated; as it is desirable to insure a strong andunyielding connection between the parts. The boss or hub of the spideris furnished with a backwardly extending integral tongue or nipple Ihaving a central opening therein; and with an annular recess d about itsbase. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) The knob or handle D is fitted with aninternal chamber that matches said tongue I and with a projecting endtenon d that enters said annular recess (2'. The center stud O isformed-with a broad head 0 a shoulder that seats against the face of theframe, and a long shank or spindle O that extends through the knob andreceives the binder or nut G on its threaded end, as illustrated in Fig.3; said nut G being sunk within a recess in the knob so that its outerend is substantially flush and smooth with the outer surface of thehandle. Transverse lugs or points J are formed on the part I that enterdepressions on the part D and thus prevent rotation of one part on theother. This manner of attaching the knob or handle forms a very secureconnection and avoids liability of the knob becoming split or workingloose. If in any instance preferred a T- shaped handle (see dotted linesD Fig. 2) can be employed in lieu of the round knob.

K indicates a spring or yielding presser arranged in connection with oneof the arms a. 1

to serve as a friction brake against the winding wheel B for reducingits momentum when running off the tape. Said spring may be made asindicated in Fig. 5, with a perforated end having a cord or bit ofleather m drawn into the perforations to serve as a contact pad againstthe side or inner rim surface of the wheel B." In any instance, ifpreferred, the

instrument may be made and operated with the spring presser K omitted.

I In the operation, the measuring tape is run off by simply holding theframe by the handle knob while the assistant walks away with the end ofthe tape, or in other convenient manner of usage. Then for re-windingthe tape the instrument is held by its knob in the left hand and thewinding wheel is rotated by its crank with the right hand (or viceversa) and the tape is drawn in and laid in coils within the overhangingguards A in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be noticed that my invention, as herein shown and described,provides a light, strong and serviceable instrument for engineering workor measuring purposes; that the winding can be very rapidly performed sothat the tape can be reeled in as fast as the operator may walk forward;that the coils of the tape, while confined by the overhang- 1ng arms,are fully exposed to view, can dry quickly if wet, and any adhering sandor dirt can be readily jarred oif and will freely escape from among thecoils. Another advantage is that the side of the wheel is unobstructed,affording a free swing for the crank, while the overhanging ends of thearms or guards-simply retain the tape without interfering with thefreeoperations of the winding wheel.

I claim as my'invention herein, to be secured by Letters Patent 1. lfhewithin described engineers tape-reel, comprising the spider-frameconsisting of a series of arms, the endsof which are each forwardlyoffset and inwardly returned in the form of a rectangular loopadaptedfor retaining the coils of the tape; in. combination with the revolublewinding-wheel centrally pivoted to said spider-frame by an'axial stud,its peripheral rim disposed at the inward opening of said arm-ends, andadapted for winding and supporting the tapewithin theloops 2. In aninstrument of the character described, the frame having the projectingintegral nipple and annular groove, and the handle or knob having theinternal chamber fitting said nipple, and the annular end tenon fittingsaid groove, in combination with the tape-winding Wheel, the axial studhaving a bearing for said wheel and a shank that extends through saidframe and knob, and the binder nut on said shank, substantially as setforth.

3. In combination, substantially as described, the skeleton frameconsisting of a series of narrow arms their respective ends offset andinwardly returned to form separate overhanging guard loops, the grip orhandle fixed to the center of said frame, the windingwheel axiallysupported in connection therewith, its peripheral rim revoluble withinthe spaces embraced between said arms and their overhanging inwardlyreturned ends, the measuring tape attached to the periphery of saidwheel, and the presser-spring attached to an arm of said frame and itsfree end bear iug against the rim of said winding-wheel, for the purposeset forth.

4. In an instrument of the character described, the winding wheel Bhaving the 0ppositely beveled recess e sunk into the face of itsperipheral rim, with the rigid bar f across saidrecess, in combinationwith the steel tape T. having its end inserted beneath said bar and bentback upon itself, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 2d day of May, A. D.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. SMITH, AURION V. Canvass.

